STORY OF ONAM

 How to make a large Pookalam

ONAM has got everything to do with King MAHABALI.  How did it all start ?

There was an Asuran demon who hated Lord Vishnu.  This demon had a son named Prahlada who was a strong devotee of Vishnu.  His father  did not like this and tried to kill him but Lord Vishnu took the avtaar of Narsimha and saved Prahlada.  Prahlada had a son called Virochara who is Bali's father.  Bali was known as Mahabali as he was a good ruler and people loved him.

Mahabali was the grandson of Prahlada.  He defeated the gods Devas and through his power took over the three worlds.  The Devas came to Lord Vishnu and asked for his help.  Lord Vishnu refused because Mahabali was a good ruler and his devotee.  After victory Mahabali kept a Yajna(home) and that day he would grant anyone any request.  Lord Vishnu wanted to test him so he came in the avatar of a dwarf,a brahmin boy called Vamana.  Mahabali asked Vamana what he wanted.  Vamana said he needed only three foot of land.  Mahabali agreed.  Suddenly Vamana grew into enormous size and covered two foot of the universe.  One more foot was remaining out of the three so Mahabali offered his head for Vamana (Lord Vishnu) to step on.  Vamana stepped on his head and pushed him to the underworld.  

Vamana who was Lord Vishnu gave Mahabali a boon saying he could visit on the land that he ruled but only once every year.  Mahabali agreed to this.  This revisit of Mahabali marks the festival ONAM.  People are happy to invite him and they celebrate as it is a cultural and religious festival for 10 days.  

There is Vallam kalli , the traditional boat race. Race of many kinds of paddled long boats and snake boats are seen.  Pulikkali is a tiger dance, a folk art where people paint like tigers and hunters and entertain people.  Kummattikali is a mask dance where people are seen in colourful masks dancing and moving from house to house collecting gifts.  Onavilla is a short bow shaped musical instrument used while dancing.  There are women's dance called Onam kali, Thumbi Thullal.  There is Attachamayam where the elephants are seen in parade with colourful umbrellas, drum beats , folk songs, dance and music.  You can find Onapottam (various costumes) Then there is Kazhchakkula which means plantain offering.  The best part to see is the Pookalam where a variety of colourful flowers are pinched up into pieces and patterns decorated on the floor of every entrance of houses, shops, offices, temples etc and lamps are well arranged.  Women are seen dressed in traditional Kerala saree or Kasavu set mundu.  Everything really makes Kerala as God's own country.  

The last day of the stay of Mahabali is remembered with a nine course vegetarian Onasadya feast.  Onasadya consists of traditional vegetarian dish served on a banana leaf as lunch.  Traditional food includes Rice, Sambhar, Avial, Thoran, Mezhukkupuratti, Kaalan, Olan,Injipuli, Erisheri, Puliseri, Kichadi, Pachadi, Moru, Rasam, Pickles, Banana chips, Sharkaravertti, Pappadam and Payasam.

Families enjoy lunch together.  Gifts are given to workers.  Parents give silver coins to children. Onam honours the Vamana avatar of Vishnu and the homecoming of Emperor Mahabali, a legendary Emperor in the Indian history.


HAPPY ONAM TO ALL

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